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Reuters: US states reject anti-vaccine bills as public health groups fight MAHA
Public health groups persuaded Republican lawmakers to reject dozens of bills that would have ended school vaccine mandates and other requirements.
Dozens of state anti-vaccine bills backed by "Make America Healthy Again" supporters failed in 2026 after public health groups won over Republican state lawmakers, marking significant defeats for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s coalition.
Coordinated MAHA efforts produced hundreds of anti-vaccine bills across state legislatures in 2026, but vaccine advocates countered with polling data showing Americans support school vaccination requirements and view them as safe.
Idaho introduced six anti-vaccine bills, West Virginia nine, Tennessee eight, and South Dakota five—none passed. Iowa advocates monitored 18 bills opposed by nearly three dozen organizations including the Iowa Nurses Association and Iowa Association of School Boards.
Leah Wilson, founder of Stand for Health Freedom, said she remains encouraged by anti-vaccine momentum including hearings in five states, as more Iowa legislators joined caucuses to pursue further legislation.
The White House has directed Kennedy not to take further steps against vaccines ahead of November midterm elections when Republicans will defend a slim congressional majority, though he previously advanced actions to remove shots from the childhood immunization schedule.